Thursday, February 14, 2008

Yes, pitchers and catcher report today, marking the official start of spring training. What better time for all of us to put those Congressional hearings behind us, and for me to make my bold (and probably wrong) predictions for the coming season. Here are my predicted final standings, along with the occasional random comment:

Frankly, those top three positions will probably be interchangable, with that trio fighting it out until the last weekend. San Diego's additions this winter tended toward the old and questionable (Jim Edmonds, Randy Wolf, Olmedo Saenz) and will likely be disappointing despite their fearsome pitching. And the Giants just have to many pieces to pick up yet.

Despite the splashy addition of Johan Santana, I just don't see the Mets having the heart to overtake the Phillies. Meanwhile, the Marlins should put up strong competition for the worst team in the majors.

The Tigers look like a juggernaut in the making. Beware. Meanwhile, the Royals have quietly been making some meaningful improvements. It won't be enough to pull them out of the cellar in their division, but look for them to have a better record this year and no longer find themselves in the coversation about the worst team in baseball.

Ugh. My least favorite division in baseball. But still, look for some history to be made here this year -- the Yankees missing the playoffs for the first time since 1994 (expect come poor decision making by the junior Steinbrenners) and the Rays making their first-ever finish out of last place. Tampa Bay has some very impressive young studs and although they're inexperienced, they'll still be able to easily top the trainwreck that is the Orioles.

I tried to approach these selections objectively and not let my heart be my guide (otherwise my beloved Dodgers would be walking away with the title). Yet somehow I wound up with the 2008 World Series being a rematch of the 1908 fall classic. That much karma (along with Ryan Dempster's preseason prediction) should be enough to make Cubs fans' collective heads explode, but unfortunately for them, I don't see it turning out the same way as last time. Wait 'til next century, guys.